Mahesh Bhatt will testify against extortionists

Film Director Mahesh Bhatt has been summoned by Special MCOCA Judge MR Bhatkar to depose before the special court on Monday.

Bhatt is likely to testify against five hardened criminals owing allegiance to the Ravi Poojari gang who had barged into his Juhu office last year.

Following the incident, a complaint had been lodged at the DN Nagar police station and the case was later transferred to the crime branch. The five assailants were arrested while they were planning to murder a Ghatkopar-based hotelier. During interrogation they confessed that a close aide of Poojari had hired them to threaten Bhatt.

Two of the accused Santosh Poojari (33) and Ramesh Kanojia (27), who were later arrested, admitted to their role in the conspiracy. Based on several cases of extortion, dacoity and attempt to murder, which had been earlier registered against them, the police slapped MCOCA charges on the five who are still in custody.

The prosecution has, so far, examined 11 witnesses in the case.

Bhatt is likely to testify to the entire incident before the court on Monday.